Abstract
This study was conducted to improve the yield of neutrophils collected for transfusion from normal donors by means of the Haemonetics Model 30 Blood Cell Processor.
A total of 78 leukaphereses have been performed on 67 donors. A mean yield of 13.9±7.5 (×109) neutrophils was obtained by the pretreatment of the donor with hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef, 200 mg. i.v.) or dexamethasone (6 mg. p.o.) and the addition of high molecular hydroxyethyl starch (HES) to the extracorporeal circulation.
The collection time of 3 minutes on each cycle seemed most adequate for the yield of neutrophils.
High molecular weight HES was better than low molecular one in increasing the number of neutrophils harvested and in reducing the total fluid volume infused.
Adverse effects were minimal. The structure and function of the processed neutrophils were not damaged or changed.
